ITOGON SURVIVES BOKOD WHEN TEAMS ARE SHORTHANDED

December 9, 2024 Community Billboard Sports

ITOGON, Benguet

On a day when most teams lacked the manpower, the team with more players showed the way. Thanks to Itogon’s more players present when it faced one of the stronger in the 13- team Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup = Benguet Basketball League, Bokod, Kim Padawag and crew has made a case for itself for the top two spot with the win. Itogon wore down a fighting Bokod six in the last quarter to cruise to a 120-111 victory last Saturday Chad Villanueva and Kim Padawag scored 20 points a piece to power the hist team to the win over last year’s bridesmaid which came to Itogon with five players to start the 3PM showdown, the most exciting in the day long games.

The former University of the Cordilleras Jaguar Villanueva capped his performance with 18 rebounds, while Padawag, a former Baguio Central University Eagle, dished a game high 12 assists as they helped Itogon come back from a seven-point deficit in the third canto. “Medyo nawalan ng depensa,” said Padawag of the game where John Ric Buenavista was at his lonesome before the start of the 3PM showdown of who could be among two of the expected top four contenders of the league. “But we came back in the fourth, we were able to communicate and our shots were getting in,” the former Baguio College University standout.

Lenz Antolino had five treys for a 20-point production, while Jan Rasec Ganilo, who entered after the first half, had
four from rainbow country for 17 points. John Ric Buenaventura led all scorers with 31 points, while Ray Bilibli added 26. Roy Pulac added 16, while Darwin Fernandez made 14. The two added 12 and 15 rebounds, respectively. It was the second defeat of Bokod in six games and fall to fourth place behind Tuba (5- 2), while Itogon improved to 6-
1 and sole second behind leader and defending champion La Trindiad.

Tuba made sure that there is no upset now and exacted a revenge against Atok. While Tuba had eight men reporting, Atok had only five as the former avenged its loss to the same squad last year, the league’s biggest shocker yet, with a 124-100 victory here. Raxl Apilado drained six treys en route to a team high 33 points, while Josh Bernal made the same from rainbow country for 26 points, both personal bests. “We got our revenge although there are only five of
them,” said de Vera of the win as they improved to 5-2 win-loss.

Reigning most valuable player Cyril de Vera scored his first triple double with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. He also made three steals. John Cedric Pugong chipped in 16 points and a game high rebound of 15. He also dished three assists, made two steals and had a block. Kurt Tamiray also had a triple double on a game high 39 points, 11 boards and 11 assists. Clifton Melis Kurt Lee Limpayos chipped in 22 and 20 points, respectively. Atok fell to 2-2. Kabayan relied on a solid second half to beat Buguias, 95- 89. Kabayan bounced back from an 86-91 surprise defeat to Tublay when many of its top men had to sit down when they were hurt early in the second quarter.

But Saturday saw them all back in action even the big men. “Finally, we got a full line up and the four big men are with us,” said coach Randy Alis, who himself arrived early in the second quarter. Teofilo Albert and Kyle Naisod combined for 50 points to carry the brunt of Kabayan’s offense with the former adding six rebounds, dish nine dimes
and had seven steals. Naisod, who sat down thw hole of second canto the last time out, added four rebounds and
assists and stole five times as the Mount Pulag residents improve to 3-2 win-loss slate.

Three other Kabayan players scored in double digits with Johnny Pascua making another double-double, 18 points and 12 boards to make up for his early exit the last time out. He was actually taken out early in the second quarter with him holding on his left rib cage. Dexter Casio and Malone Benito added 11 and 10 markers with the former coming back after a three game absence. Four orange shirts finished with double digit scores with Fernando Bacani, Jr. leading with 21 points. Kenneth Antonio, who fouled out with less than two minutes remaining, had 16 points and 12 assists, while Jerry Olsim had 14 points and game high 16 rebounds.

Jumar Pulido chipped in 1 markers for Buguias which fell to 1-4. Mankayan broke into the win column with a 100-72 victory over Sablan. It was the first victory for Mankayan after three loses and it was a dominant win with it leading by as many as 20 points by the third canto. Lindo de Guzman had a game high 25 points, even as Adrian Sison added 22 markers to lead Mankayan to the win after the 106-139 loss to defending champion La Trinidad in Kapangan the other Sunday Neil Bondad added 13 points for Mankayan, while Diether Bulso led Sablan with 20 points, while pulling eight boards, dished two assists and stole twice. Trent Cyril Busay added 14 for Sablan which fell to 1-6.
Tublay took full advantage of an undermanned Kibungan to take an easy 117-92 win.